SHIMLA -11 October, 2026

Significance of law lies in ensuring justice for weakest sections of society: CM

• We must respect law and justice: Justice Sundresh
• CM honours meritorious students with gold medals at NLU Convocation

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that justice in a democracy should not be confined to judicial orders alone, but must also be guided by fairness, wisdom and a proper understanding of the circumstances. He was addressing the third convocation ceremony of Himachal Pradesh National Law University (NLU), Shimla.

He said that the true significance of law lies in ensuring that even the weakest sections of society have hope of receiving justice, that the voices of the needy are heard and that every citizen feels secure in the knowledge that their rights are protected.

Sh. Sukhu encouraged the graduating students to face future challenges with perseverance and continuous effort. He said the success is measured not merely by professional achievements but also by the contribution towards society. Recalling his academic background, the Chief Minister said that he had obtained his law degree from Himachal Pradesh University. Although his primary interest had always been politics, he said his legal education was proving beneficial in his political life.

The Chief Minister said the state government was committed to strengthen the judicial system to ensure timely justice for the common people. Describing the judiciary as an important pillar of democracy, he said all three organs of the Constitution were intended to serve citizens and uphold justice. He said people had deep faith in the Constitution, while also observing that questions naturally arose when judicial decisions created difficulties for government initiatives undertaken in the public interest.

Referring to certain judicial decisions concerning public employment, Sh. Sukhu said that in some cases, financial benefits were granted beyond the provisions of the applicable rules, placing an additional burden on the state exchequer. He said the government in 2003 had decided that contractual employees would not be entitled to seniority and increments. However, nearly two decades later, the court directed the grant of financial benefits despite there being no such provision in the applicable recruitment rules. ‘No elected government intends to deprive its government employees of their financial benefits, but it has to look at the state exchequer as well, he said.

Highlighting the geographical challenges faced by Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister said that constructing playgrounds was difficult in the state’s mountainous terrain. He emphasized the need to facilitate the shared use of school and community playgrounds to make optimal use of the limited available space. He said that, for the first time, the state government paid a cost of Rs. 5 lakh towards organizing the Independence Day celebrations after the High Court permitted the use of a government school playground subject to this condition.

The Chief Minister assured that the state government would extend all possible assistance to strengthen the infrastructure of Himachal Pradesh University and National Law University, Shimla. He expressed confidence that collective efforts would establish NLU Shimla as a centre of excellence in education and research.

Supreme Court Judge Justice M. M. Sundresh described Himachal Pradesh as a ‘paradise on earth’ and highlighted the distinctive role of law graduates in society. Addressing the graduating students, he said, ‘As a student of law, you are different from others. You are a social engineer, social doctor and social architect.’ Justice Sundresh emphasized that respect for law and justice required more than a theoretical understanding of legal provisions. He said that effective delivery of justice demanded knowledge a strong sense of justice and a firm commitment to social responsibility.

He encouraged the graduates to prepare for emerging challenges and develop expertise in new fields, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). Observing that AI would significantly influence society, he said it would also have a substantial impact on the legal profession. Urging the students to embrace technological advancements, Justice Sundresh said they must remain prepared for change, adopt new technologies and maintain a continuous desire to learn and improve.

Earlier, the Chief Minister honoured students who had secured gold medals for their academic achievements.

Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia conferred degrees upon the graduating students.

Former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Tripura High Court Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and former Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court Trilok Singh Chauhan were also conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) on the occasion.

Vice-Chancellor National Law University, Shimla, Dr. Preeti Saxena, Judges of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

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State government to honour medal-winning sports personalities in October

· Prize money of Rs. 9.03 crore to be awarded to sports personalities

A spokesperson of the state government today here informant that the government will organize an award ceremony in October to honour sports personalities from the state who won medals at the 20th Asian Games.

The spokesperson said that Ritu Negi, Pushpa Rana, Jyoti Thakur and Bhawana Thakur, members of the gold medal-winning Kabaddi team, will each receive Rs. 1 crore as prize money. Sawan Barwal, who won a silver medal in the men's marathon, will receive Rs. 2.50 crore, while Seema Kumari, who won a bronze medal in the 10,000-metre athletics event will receive Rs. 1.50 crore.

He said that Renuka Thakur, a member of the gold medal-winning cricket team, will receive Rs. 1 crore. Takhelambam Inungambi, who participated in Judo, will receive Rs. 3 lakh as an award. The state government will provide a total of Rs. 9.03 crore in prize money to these athletes.

The spokesperson further said that the state Cabinet has recently approved several important decisions to support athletes. The Cabinet has approved amendments to the rules governing cash awards for members of Indian teams that win medals at international sporting competitions.

Under the revised rules, cash prizes would be distributed equally among all eligible athletes from Himachal Pradesh who are part of a medal-winning Indian team. In such cases, each athlete may receive an amount equal to the prize money prescribed for an individual medal winner. Alternatively, the prize money may be distributed proportionately, with each athlete guaranteed at least 25 percent of the cash award prescribed for an individual medal winner. The Cabinet has also approved the creation of posts for District Youth Services and Sports Officers for sports personalities who win medals at the international level.

The spokesperson said that the state government is making continuous efforts to promote sports, encourage athletes and recognize their achievements through financial rewards and other support measures.